Dental tray



Dec. 4, 1951 P. CUNNINGHAM 2,577513 7 DENTAL TRAY Filed March 28, 1949 V2 SHEETS-SHEET 5 Paul um 'glwmz I BY -I 6, a

A ORNEYS Dec. 4, 1951 P. CUNNINGHAM 5 5 DENTAL TRAY Filed March 28, 19492 SHEETS-SHEET 2 a I' ATTORNE Patented Dec. 4, 1951 DENTAL TRAY PaulCunningham, Houston, Tex., assignor ol' onefourthto Charles. H. Bradley,Jr., Houston,

Tex.

Application March 28, 1949, Serial No. '83,988 i 9 laims.

This invention relates to a dental tray and to a method of .makingdentures which eliminates steps from the conventional denture 'makinmethods now employed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a dental tray in sizes justslightly larger than the ridges of patients so that the tray may befilled with impression material and a single impression taken from whicha finalcast may bemade.

It is another object of this invention to provide a tray of this classwhich is pliable and which may be trimmed from the periphery to fit theridges of individual patients, so that a sin le impression may be takenfrom which a final cast may be made.

It is another object of this invent'on to provide a tray of this classwhich may eliminate the conventional step of building trays :forindividual patients.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tray of thisclass which has three ridge contactors therein so `that the tray mayrest on the ridges of patients at a minimum number of points.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide 'a tray of this'class having upstanding tabs thereon adapted to provide means 'to whicha temporary handle, preferably of expendable material, may be attached.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a tray of'this class having tabs thereon which may 'be utilized, after the casthas been made from the single impression, to aid in retaining a means onthe tray by which the bite of thepatient may be measured.

It is still a further ,object of this .invention `to provide a tray ofthis class in which the tabs for retaining .such .bite measuring meansmay be in depressed position when .the tray is not being employed inmeasuring the bite.

Still another object of this invention is to provide trays of this classwhich may be provided in a plurality of stock sizes.

.A still further object of this invention is to provide a tray of thisclass which may be provided in modified form .and in stock sizes for employment where the .ridges of patients have some teeth remainingtherein.

Another object of this invention .is to provide a tray of this classwhich .is easily and inexpen sively produced in large quantites.

It is a further object .of this invention to provide a tray of thisclass having thereon means which may be used, after an impresson has,been taken and a cast has been made, to assist the adherence of a,substance .or devicetothe tray so that the bite -may -be measured.

,It is also an object of ;this ihvention to 'provid a tray of this classwhich in modified .form :may

be emploved in the process of prepar ng immediate dentures.

It is also an object of this invention te provid a method of makingdentures which el minates the steps of taking 'snap irpressions nd makincasts therefrom.

It is yet another object ,of this nvention t provide a method of makingparti Vd htures which is less expensive and more accurate th npresent'methods employed. e

It is stina further object of this invention to provide a method ofmaking immediate dentures which is less expensive ,and more accuratethan present methods employed.

Other and furhter objects 'of this invention will be obvious when thespecificaton is considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Eig. 1 is a plan View of .a tray;

Fig. '2 is a sectonai elevation taken along line 2-4 of Fig. :1:

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a tray in place in the mouth of apatient;

Fig. 4 is a partial plan view of the tray after an impression has beentaken, ;the tray being shown as having :beenvturned over from its.position in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line of Fig. 4;

Fig. .6 isa sectional'view taken along line 3-.6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective View showing a cast as having beenmade from theimpression in the tray;

Fig. 8 is a plan View of `a modified tray which includes .a .box

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation taken .along line ii- S of Fig. -8,

.In the conventional method of making dentures ;a tray oferigidconstruction and relatively expensive materia-l is :provided which has ahandle rigidly fixed thereto. This tray is of a lar size ;Compared tothe space within the mouth of the patient, :and is filled withimpressich material an fitted over the ridge of the r patient to obtaina first impression, which of necessity is ,inaccurate .as to the exact,delineation of ;the ridge over which the :material is impressed. This,is tme since the tray itself lls the mouth r 1 61 1 101) permit theassistance .of the -iingers of the operator to firmly control the takingof the imh essien, 'which must be accomplished by 'the 'manipulation ofthe 'handle from .theexterior of the mouth.

From the first impression a cast is made, which means that the openspace defined within the impression material, .and reptesenting ;therough conformity 'of the ridge, is filled with a substance which wilhardeninto a cast, After this cast has shardened, sa --tray :is builtover it which is .slightly larger than the ridge and-is of substantialrigidity, and which ordinarily has a rigid handle thereon. This tray isthen filled with impression material and a second or final impression istaken, and in this operation the reduced size of the tray as Compared tothe first tray, and its close approach to the configuration of theridge, permits the fingers oi the operator to manipulate the tray withinthe mouth so that an accurate impression may be taken.

From this final impression a final cast is made which conforms to theexact ridge contour, and from this cast a plate of false teeth ordenture is made to fit over the ridge.

The tray of this invention has a use in the making of full, partial, andimmediate dentures,

both upper and lower, whereby it reduces the steps of the conventionalmethod, and additionally it may be applied in the measuring of the biteof the patient after the impression has been made and a cast has beenmade therefrom.

As the advantageous and novel results obtained by the tray of thisinvention may be most readily understood by comparing its application inmaking iull dentures to the making of full dentures by the conventionalmethod, as has been hereinabove set orth, the shortened steps of suchusage will be stated in detail as a basis of comparson of the novelresults obtained thereby.

The drawings show a tray l, and the manner of its use in making theimpression for a lower denture. This tray is of substantiallysemielliptical form and of substantially semi-circular cross-section andhas indentations or ridge contactors 2, 3 and 4 therein. As shown inFig. 3 these ridge contactors extend below the top of the tray and reston the ridge 5 of the patient so as to leave a space 6 between the ridgeand the inner surface of the tray, which space in operation contains theimpression material, not shown, which takes the impression of the ridge.

The tray is of a pliable metal as soft aluminum, and can be trimmed fromthe periphery 'l to conform the tray to the ridge of the individualpatient. To serve as means for attaching a handle to the tray, tabs orlugs 8 are provided, and additional tabs 9 are also provided to servewith the tabs 8 as means for attaching a bite measuring means as will behereinafter described. The tray may or may not have holes w therein forpurposes of retention of impression material in the tray.

The tray of this invention may be provided in stock sizes, as small,medium, or large, to generally conform to ridges of patients which maybe grouped in corresponding sizes. The operator selects an appropriatesize, places it over the ridge of the patient with his fingers, andjudges whether or not it should be trimmed, and at what points if any,so as to properly con-form it to the ridge and so as to provide therequisite space between inner surface of tray and ridge for an adequateamount of impression material.

He then aflixes a handle l l to the tabs 8, which preferably consists ofsome expendable material, such as modeling compound, or other suitablecomposition. The operator then has a choice of materials and techniquesfor taking the single impression required, which compares with thetaking of the final impression in ordinary dental procedure.

The tray is then placed in the mouth and over the ridge until theindentation or ridge contactors touch the ridge tissue lightly. Thisindicates to the operator that the tray is in correct position to assurethat the exact configuration of the ridge will be impressed in theimpression material as it proceeds to harden.

The tray, and the impression [2, are then removed and a cast is madetherefrom by pouring a cast material into the impression, such materialbeing a substance which will harden to form a cast.

The steps hereinabove described, which the drawings apply to the makingof a lower cast, also apply to the making of an upper cast. When thesecasts have been completed, the trays, with the impressed and hardenedimpression material therein, are removed from the cast and the handlesll are removed from the trays.

Bite rims, or any other suitable appliances, are then mounted on theconvex surfaces !4 of both upper and lower trays, and the retention ofsuch rims or appliances on the trays is assisted and established bymeans of the tabs 8 and 9. The trays, with the impression materialtherein, and with suitable appliances or substances for establishing thebite installed thereon, are then placed in the mouth and the bitedetermined.

When the bite is determined, the upper and lower trays are sealed orjoined together while still in the mouth of the patient, and thissubassembly is then removed. The upper and lower casts are then fittedback into the impression and the final assembly thereof is then mountedon an articulator from which the dentures are made.

The technique or method of employing the tray of this invention is notlimited to the exact procedure which has been set forth hereinimmediately above but other methods and technique may 'be employed withthe tray as well. One obvious variation consists in the employment of ahandle, as of wire, which may be attached to the tabs and the tray. Nospecific structure is shown as only mechanical skill would be requiredto construct and apply any number of conventional handles in thismanner. However, the employment of such a handle in combination with thetray would result in as novel a combination of elements for achievingthe results of this invention as is shown being achieved by thecombination of the tray with the handle shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7, and9.

In the conventional way of taking impressions for partial dentures, theimpression of the serviceable teeth to be retained and the ridge onwhich the partial denture is to be placed, is taken with theconventional type, large, rigid tray as is used for taking the "snap"impression hereinabove described. Obviously such impressions cannotconform with any high degree of accuracy to the conguration of theremaining teeth of the ridge.

The tray of this invention may be modified for taking impressions forpartial dentures by providing a stock of modified trays in sizes and inpatterns to conform with ridge conditions generally encountered whichrequire the Construction of partial dentures. These trays [5 resemblethe general contour of the tray l, with the exception that a box IE isformed by pressing out or moulding the metal to cover both the teeth andridge. The tabs 8 in this Construction are installed on top of the boxlG, and an indentation or contacto' i? is provided to locate the tray !5upon the remaining teeth !8, and to insure that suficient space remainsaround the teeth for impression material. The tap 9 may or may not berequired, dependent upon whether or not the bite is to be established inthe individual case considered. The successive steps of making a partialdenture with the tray correspond in sequence to the steps of making fulldentures.

If the posterior teeth have been extracted for immediate dentureConstruction, the front teeth remaining, the bite may be established inthe posterio' ridges in the following manner:

A tray, not shown, which is a modification of the tray I, may beemployed, which tray has the top or arched portion cut away in front soas not to interfere with the front teeth left remaining. The bite isthen established in the tray in the posterior area thereof, ashereinabove generally described for measuring the bite with the tray.

Broadly this invention considers a dental tray, and methods of employingsuch tray, so as to Shorten, cheapen, and improve dental techniquespresently employed in making dentures.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed metal, said tray being ofsubstantially semielliptical form and of substantially semi-circularcross-section to confine impression material between the tray and theridge of a patient, upstanding means on said tray to assist and completethe attachment of a handle to the tray, additional means on said tray,normally depressed, to be forced into upstanding position so that saidfirst and second means may serve together to assist and complete theconnection of bite measuring means to said tray, holes in said tray toaid the adherence of the impression material and the bite measuringmeans thereto, and a plurality of indentations formed integrally withsaid tray to contact the ridge at a minimum number of points to maintainthe tray in spaced relation from the ridge.

2. A dental tray of substantially semi-elliptical form and ofsubstantially semi-circular crosssection and composed of pliable andeasily trimmed metal, upstanding means on said tray to assist andcomplete the attachment of a handle to the tray, additional means onsaid tray, normally depressed, to be forced into upstanding position sothat said first and second means may serve together` to assist andcomplete the connection of bite measuring means to said tray, and aplurality of indentations formed integrally with said tray to contactthe ridge of a patient at a minimum number of points to maintain thetray in spaced relation from the ridge.

3. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed material and comparing inshape and cross-section to the ridge of a patient so as to confineimpression material between the tray and ridge, upstanding means on saidtray to assist and com- 4 plete the attachment of a handle to the tray,

additional means on said tray, normally depressed, to be forced intoupstanding position so that said first and second means may servetogether to assist and complete the connection of bite measuring meansto said tray, and a plurality of indentations formed integrally withsaid tray to contact the ridge at a minimum number of points to maintainthe tray in spaced relation from the ridge.

4. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed material and comparing inshape and cross-section to the ridge of a patient so as to confineimpression material between the tray and ridge, upstanding means on saidtray to assist and complete the attachment of a handle to the tray, anda plurality of indentations formed integrally With said tray to contactthe ridge at a minimum number of points to maintain the tray in spacedrelation from the ridge.

5. A dental tray consisting of pliable and easily trimmed metal of ashape to fit over the partially edentulous ridge of a patient,indentations formed integrally with said tray to contact the ridge andteeth at a minimum number of points to permit an impression material tobe confined between said tray and said ridge, and upstanding means onsaid tray to assist and complete the attachment of a handle to the tray.

6. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed material and comparing inshape and cross-section to the ridge of a patient so as to confineimpression material between the tray and ridge, upstanding means on saidtray to assist and complete the attachment of a handle to the tray, aplurality of identations formed integrally with said tray to contact theridge at a minimum number of points to maintain the tray in spacedrelation from the ridge, and a handle for attachment to said upstandingmeans and tray.

7. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed material and comparing inshape and cross-section to the ridge of a patient so as to confineimpression material between the tray and ridge, upstanding means on saidtray to assist and complete the attachment of a handle to the tray, aplurality of identations in said tray to contact the ridge at a minimumnumber of points to maintain the tray in spaced relation from the ridge,and a fiexible handle for attachment to said upstanding means and tray.

8. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed material and comparing inshape and cross-section to the ridge of a patient so as to confineimpression material between the tray and ridge, upstanding means on saidtray to assist and complete the attachment of a handle to the tray, aplurality of indentations formed integrally with said tray to contactthe ridge at a minimum number of points to maintain the tray in spacedrelation from the ridge, and a mouldable handle for attachment to saidupstanding means and tray.

9. A dental tray of pliable and easily trimmed material and comparing inshape and cross-section to the ridge of a patient so as to confineimpression material between the tray and ridge, and a plurality ofindentations formed integrally with said tray to contact the ridge at aminimum number of points to maintain the tray in spaced relation fromthe ridge, said tray having a portion thereof cut away to permit thetray to be fitted over teeth remaining in said ridge.

PAUL CUNNINGI-IAM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,385,505 Supplee July 26, 19211,813,583 Rice July '7, 1931 1,886,872 Craigo Nov. 8, 1932 2,036,735Welker Apr. 7, 1936 2,452,866 oertel Nov. 2, 1948

